The Advocate
PARTNERS EDITION
Issue 22 | October 2022
A Message from
the State Child Advocate
Amanda F. Whittle, JD, CWLS
Greetings from the Department of Children's Advocacy. We have plenty of news to share with you this month, including many new faces who have joined our staff and even more new GAL volunteers who have been sworn in and are beginning their work as best-interest advocates for children.
Our Investigations Unit has been traveling around the state to tour and get to know some of our partner agencies and service providers, and Continuum of Care Director Greg Wright and I have been out meeting with Continuum of Care staff across the state.
October was Safe Sleep Awareness Month. To raise awareness about the increased risk of child death from unsafe sleep and to share the ABCs of safe sleep, Deputy Child Advocate Kayla Capps and I participated in the 2022 Safe Sleep Summit, led by Michelle Cunningham of Department of Social Services (DSS) and Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services.
On October 6, I served on the Architectural and Engineering Selection Panel along with representatives from the Departments of Juvenile Justice, Mental Health, and Health and Human Services (DHHS) to select the firm who will begin the design and build of a state-operated Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility for children and adolescents.
On October 18, state agency and organization leaders gathered to discuss resources and policy at the Human Trafficking Convening of State Leadership meeting, which was led by the Palmetto Association for Children and Families and DSS.
On October 19, I presented the agency’s FY24 budget to the Executive Budget Office, and on October 20, Paulette Salley and her team at DSS provided a demonstration of a new portal DSS has designed to improve communication and efficiency between DSS and the Foster Care Review Division (FCRD).
I am a member of the DHHS-led Master Plan Advisory Committee which met for the third time on October 25, and I am excited about this committee’s work regarding access to quality behavioral health services in our state.
October also included collaboration with the State Child Fatality Advisory Committee, Children’s Justice Act Task Force, S.C. Bar Children’s Law Committee, Safe Babies Court Leadership Team, and multi-agency meetings concerning placement challenges for children and adolescents with serious mental health, developmental, and other issues.
In addition, we've been trying to have a little fun, as you can see by the FCRD's Halloween party and costume contest. Shout out to Communications Director Rob Schaller for such a creative October newsletter!
We hope you like this special holiday edition of the newsletter and will let us know your feedback. If you have a story idea, or news you'd like to share, please let us know. Send us your questions, concerns, and story ideas. We always appreciate hearing from you.
Welcome New Staff
As our team grows, so do the opportunities to improve the lives of all children in South Carolina.
Foster Care Review Division
Program Coordinator I
Shenita
Hamilton
Welcome back to Shenita Hamilton, a former FCRD employee who rejoined the agency on Sept.19 after taking some time off to be a stay-at-home mom.
Prior to her initial employment with the agency, Shenita worked for SCDSS in Kershaw County where she was a CPS assessment case manager. She graduated from South Carolina State University in 2007 with a Bachelor's in Political Science/Pre-Law and earned her Master's in Criminal Justice from Everest University in 2014.
She enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Coordinator I - Charleston
Katelynn
Lemire
Katelynn Lemire started Sept. 19. A Rhode Island-native, she has also spent more than half of her life in Mississippi, including earning her Bachelor's in Criminal Justice from the University of Mississippi in 2020. She moved to Charleston a year later.
Katelynn has a twin named Kelsey, both of whom were adopted at age 6 through a DSS action. She said this was part of the reason she wanted to become a Guardian ad Litem and "help children come out of difficult situations and see the light."
Foster Care Review Division
Review Board Coordinator
Skylar
Ackerson
Skylar Ackerson started October 3. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Black Studies at Randolph-Macon College. She previously worked in DJJ as a juvenile counselor. She will begin pursuing a Master’s of Social Work next fall.
Helping children and families has always been the goal but knowing that her work could potentially make a positive difference is a dream. Skylar enjoys spending time at the river and with friends, listening to music, and being active.
Foster Care Review Division
Review Board Coordinator
Ashley
Downes
Ashley Downes started Oct. 17. She was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2003. She holds an Associate’s in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor’s in Business.
Prior to joining the FCRD, she worked at SCDJJ for 18 years in various roles. Her last position was as a probation officer in the Richland County office.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, two dogs, and five backyard chickens. You can also find her hiking, working out, mountain biking, or gardening.
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Coordinator I - Charleston
Lamia
Elhag
Lamia Elhag started Oct. 17. In 1992, she and her husband fled Sudan to pursue a better life in the Netherlands, just two years after graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Al-Nielin University in Khartoum, Sudan. While she has traveled to many beautiful countries, including Germany, Belgium, and France, she says her favorite is England where she earned a Master’s in Criminology. Here, she also gained extensive experience working with families from various ethnic backgrounds, including Arabic speakers--her first language.
Lamia's family entered the United States through a lottery visa program and chose to settle in Charleston. She previously volunteered for DJJ, Trident Area Agency on Aging, and Coastal Pre-Release Center. She enjoys traveling, cooking, drawing, and digital art.
Foster Care Review Division
Administrative Assistant
Kaylynn
Knight
Kaylynn Knight started Oct. 17. She was born in southern Georgia but has lived in South Carolina off and on since 2008. Currently living in Lexington, she earned her Associate's in Art from Piedmont Technical College, where she also worked as the coordinator for the registrar's office for more than six years.
Kaylynn has a passion for education, diversity, and inclusion. She also enjoys traveling and spoiling her fur baby, a 12-year-old black cat named Ellipsis.
Foster Care Review Division
Program Supervisor
Corlette
Minor
Congratulations to Corlette Minor who was promoted to FCRD's new Program Supervisor in October. She has been climbing the ladder since she was hired in 2013 as an administrative specialist. In 2015 she became the administrative assistant, and in 2018 she was named review board coordinator.
Corlette graduated with her Bachelor's of Criminal Justice in 2017 from South University.
She loves to travel and spend time with her family, including her two children, Lyrik and Khalil.
Tried
&
True
The last day of our 2022 United Way campaign is today, Friday, November 4, and so far, we've reached almost 90% of our fundraising goal of $750.
It's not too late to order your own copy of "Tried and True," a cookbook of recipes from the Department of Children's Advocacy staff for only $15.
You can also wear your favorite pair of jeans whenever you want by buying "casual days" for only $5 each (send your reciept to Eden).
Contact Eden Everett with questions.
Investigations Unit
Road Trip!
The Investigations Unit has been visiting child-serving non-profits and state agencies to meet with staff and learn more about the programs they provide to families.
In September, they visited Thornwell, in Clinton, SC, which features various educational, counseling, fostering, and housing assistance to families and children. They also run Lush Acres Farm, a fully-functional farm that hosts a variety of family friendly festivals and markets throughout the year.
Photos courtesy of Thornwell.
In October, staff visited the South Carolina Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe, a public residential high school in McCormick, SC, focused on agricultural education and training tomorrow's farmers.
Photos courtesy of John de la Howe.
It was wonderful to explore these facilities and learn more specifics about the services they offer. This will allow us to better serve South Carolina families who call our hotline looking for help.
--Laurie Davidson, director of the Investigations Unit.
Continuum of Care
Touring Scarolina
Agency director Amanda Whittle and Continuum of Care Division director Greg Wright traveled around South Carolina visiting with three of the four Continuum of Care regional offices to meet with staff and exchange ideas about ways to improve services for the children they assist (the fourth region's meeting is scheduled for November).
Continuum of Care provides intensive service coordination to children experiencing severe emotional and behavioral problems through a high-fidelity evidence-based model called Wraparound. It is a strengths-focused, individualized, collaborative approach to supporting these youth. The ultimate goal is keeping them in their home, school, and community.
Anyone can make a referral for Continuum of Care, and if accepted, the services they provide are free. Learn more by visiting coc.sc.gov.
Upstate COC Regional Office.
Pee Dee COC Regional Office.
Midlands COC Regional Office.
Meet
Aleyah D.
Photo credit: Christina Grant, 2022
SC Heart Gallery
Aleyah wants to be an equestrian when she grows up because she loves horses.
Her favorite food is mac & cheese and her perfect day would be getting to ride horses.
Aleyah describes herself as active, nice, and photogenic. She wants her future family to know that she likes to sing in church.
To inquire about adopting Aleyah, or any of the other Heart Gallery children, visit scheartgallery.sc.gov.
Guardian ad Litem
2022-2023
voca grant
Gal
receives
The Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program has been awarded a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant worth $317,298.
The grant, which runs October '22 to September '23, will fund six employees who will provide an estimated 7,000 hours of direct child advocacy services to children in abuse and neglect cases in South Carolina when there is not an available volunteer Guardian ad Litem.
Congratulations to Lela Allen Barnes and LaDara Josey for this successful grant application!
Lela Allen Barnes
Database & Grants Administrator
LaDara Josey
GAL Program Director
Did you know that the Guardian ad Litem program serves more then 9,000 children every month? We're so thankful to all of our GALs volunteers who not only work with children, but also help to recruit additional volunteers at events across the state.
Top photo: Thank you to York County GALs Susie Boyle and Margaret Radziszewska (2nd and 3rd from left) who braved the elements and joined recruiter/trainer Erin Petrella (left) and York County staff member Taylor Young (right) for the Fight for Families 5K.
Bottom photo: Lexington County GAL Morgan Thomas (right) joined recruiter/trainer Lindsey Loparo at the Irmo Okra Strut.
You're Fa-BOO-lous!
Our Spooktacular New
GAL volunteers!
Kimberly Conner
Kershaw County
Tim Taylor
Kershaw County
Allison Rodriguez
Lexington County
Whitney Pressley
Lexington County
Shana Gower
Darlington County
Andrea Knapp
Darlington County
Robin Cephas-Savage
Lexington County
Trudith Dyer
Lexington County
Daniel Gower
Darlington County
Erin Bloomer
Lexington County
Amanda Nesta
Lexington County
Beverly Bowers
Lexington County
Foster Care Review
Foster Care Review celebrated Halloween with a lunch party on Monday. The team of Shallia Belton, Shenita Hamilton, Ashley Downes, Latavial Williams, and Coretta Etheredge took top prize in the pumpkin decorating contest.
Congratulations to Christina Grant (Batman) and Stephanie Spink (Velma),1st and 2nd place respectively in the costume contest. Honorable mention to Heather Valentine who was both a vampire and that creepy kid holding a balloon from "IT."
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